AntiVirGear

It is a small text file stored on the computer when visiting web pages. Though it does not pose a risk by itself, malicious use by other software could threaten affected users' privacy.
It does not spread automatically using its own means.

Affected platforms:

Windows 2003/XP/2000/NT/ME/98/95

First detected on:

Sept. 23, 2007

Detection updated on:

Sept. 23, 2007

Statistics

No

Brief Description

AntiVirGear is a cookie.

Cookies are small text files stored in the browser on the user's computer, when visiting web pages.

Cookies store information that can be used for several purposes: to personalize web browsing, to gather demographic information about how many users visit a page, to monitor which banners are displayed to the user, etc.

These uses are not, in theory at least, malicious.

However, keep in mind that the misuse of cookies could threaten an individual's privacy.

AntiVirGear does not spread automatically using its own means. It needs an attacking user's intervention in order to reach the affected computer. The means of transmission used include, among others, floppy disks, CD-ROMs, email messages with attached files, Internet downloads, FTP, IRC channels, peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing networks, etc.